My love I ask'd once more what was her wish? (While her fond, lovely arms, did entwine me, And down trickling tears rapidly did gush,) "'Tis--may my husband's dear hands yet enshrine me, And to the silent grave, with sad and solemn stave, He in years far remote may consign me!" D. B. The duke felt extremely affected. The pathos of the Irish air, the feeling expressed in the song, and the mournful moment in which it was perused, all most powerfully conspired to operate upon those noble feelings which he too acutely possessed. And as he brought away the MS. the chaplain observed that the duke secretly brushed away the silent tear which trickled down his manly cheek. The surprise occasioned by the very sudden and extraordinary departure of Sir David Bruce, afforded a topic of conversation and altercation among the gossips and _quid nuncs_ of the vicinage, for at least a fortnight.--By that time the novelty appeared to melt away; but while it lasted all various changes were rung with endless interpolations, until they could not possibly be interpreted.--Some were inclined to throw the entire blame to the account of Adelaide, as the sole cause of her husband's departure. But others, both male and female recriminators, would entirely (if in their power) fling the whole balance of censure against Sir David Bruce. At length the parish and the county became quite sick and weary of such peevish conjectures;--until "cormorant-devouring Time" put an end to them, at least fulfilling his part, inasmuch showing that he is the destroyer of prejudice and of party, and of all sublunary things:-- "Tempus edax rerum." But it is in vain to disguise, and it would be highly culpable, if it were within the power of human ingenuity, to deny it, that often, too often, _human passion_, or it should be called brutal rage, assails the noblest minds and the most generous dispositions; those who are but too inflammably alive to whatever they conceive to be base, grovelling, or unjust--such are probably the most liable to "the sin that easily besets them." It is indeed to be lamented how suddenly passion in the moral, like the whirlwind in the physical world, can rend up by the roots all that graced and adorned human life, boldly and rudely usurping the seat of reason, and leaving only to cool and repentant reflection the unavailing sighs and sorrowing tears of self-crimination!